The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-09-15
DAILY jacksonville News-Herald1
MID LEON'S ROLLING HILLS
a Dr1Ve from Tallahassee to the Fort San
Lais Vineyard.

Drive from Tallahassee to the Fort San
Lais Vineyard.
Country ciA a Boom Ahead of it-TAe TAem.
0sesae Acknowledgment to Deoelop the Conn
sy-Great Hopes for tie Fature-M Dudo;.'
Garets
!here is no use talking" said a prominent
d.. "'iua man 10 Ne.os- Herald representative a
gay or TWO since, this South Florida bubble
VIII De pricked some day, and then look out for
Doom IN Middle and West Floridai Tina, is
Iods own country over there, aud people are
Douno 10 nnd 1t out sooner or later II il really
me most beautiful farming country in the Sou.h
"nu say IL as man more or less familiar with
every every state south of Mason and Dixon's line.
The people over in that section of Florida wani
10 develop the country in a way which il de-
serves, out variety of causes operates tn hold
them back. But its coming, and IFS coming
with a rush when it does come"
AN UNBIASED OPINION
lhls man Is In every sense q true Floridiap.
welded to no particular portion of the State. and
csHainIy having no interests in Middle or n
west Florida His opinions are therefore nm
biased, and a residence iu Florida of more than
nifty years, coupled with wide business expert
ence 10 almost every section of the State. gives
weight TO them which attaches to those of
hardly any other citizen
hiS CoHVCISdtIOu was 0elu IN Tallahassee and
view In any direction from the Capitol win
dows-north, east, south or west-conirmed the
assertion that this is Goods own country"
mere are most certainly no fairer fields to look
upon, or more beautifully wooded slopes than
those OF Leon county. The face of the country
is one long
SUCCESSION OF ROLLING HILLS
and green, watered valleys. The soil is a deep
req clay, and the contrast of the surface of the
| llglWaTS with the folIa itha IF
them Is lovely to look upon. The landscape is
most inviting. This beautiful hill country seems
10 promise more beauties still beyond each roll
ing slope, and the temptation to explore it
proved irresistible to the newspaper man In
vitng friend 10 accompany him. he walked TO
the nearest livery and ordered pair of" readers"
hooked up Immediately. While this was being
Done The stable proprietor, who is also a large
landed proprietor, talked most enteriainngy of
his large farm about ten miles out on the road
to Ihomasville, Ga, and waxed most enthusi-
astc over the prospects of an ealy development
OF this country
BEST IN THE WORLD.
There is no better land on Gods green earth
than that of Leon county There is hardly a
marketable farm product which cannot be raised
here and sold proftably even with our present
railroad facilities. But we want better mark ct
outlet. When this Townsville and Tallahas-
see line is completed won't ask any man to be
AnJ Dut we WANT Dett6r rail- cODDoc
uons STILL and public sentiment is gradually
working up TO the proper point. There is an
| element, however, which is retarding it. We
have got 10 have about dozen first-cass funerals
IN this town, and then we'll be ready to go
| aheadi"
The hooking up" process was now com.
| pieted, and, jumping into the vehicle behind the
driver. the two visitors were soon speeding over
hard, smooth road, in a comfortable surrey
ana pointing due west. The read had been cut
through high hill years ago, and on either side
the banks presented the appearance of a rocky
formation, so hard had they become from the
alternate action OF the rains and semi-tropcal
sun OF more than half century. II was enough
70 be there seated and rolling along through so
beautiful country, but it is always best to have
some objective point in view and so the Neacs-
Herald man, recalling the fame of the Fort San
Luis Vineyard, directed the driver to push on 10
that retreat.
BEAUTIFUL PICTURE
1t was late in the afternoon and the whole
western sky was aglow with the radiance of ap-
preaching sunset. delightful breeze was blow
ing and there was in the air that indescrbable
edor OF luxuriant vegetation which so charms a
city bred man and makes him for the nonce al
most lepg for a life in the fields The cotton
picking season is just beginning Every few
minutes one OF those picturesque and typical
"cracker teams " was overtaken returning from
market and bearing marks of having taken load
of that staple into Tallahassee. Seated fiat on
the floor OF their carts numerous negroes pulled
safely to one side to let the surrey pass, and in
variaby saluted its occupants most deferenlially.
On either side were wide white fields of cotton
awaiting the fingers OF the pickers TO start the
white bolls on their way into the market; these
were succeeded in turn by acre upon acre of fer
tile land either given over entirely to pasturage
| or else grown shoulder high with weeds.
IN THE OLD DAYS.
"Thirty years ago." said the newspaper mans
| companion, every foot OF this ground was un-
der the highest state of cultivation. The plan
| tiers of Leon county were among the richest in
| the whole cotton belt; and, although the war
did not lay waste the country to any perceptible
| extent, yet the sudden change from the old sys-
tenn of slave labor completely upset the indus
trial system. Every factor in agricultural devel-
opment underwent change and the country
lapsed into a sort Of sleep from which it has not
| yet awakened. / hope, however, 10 see every
| acre Of this land under cultivation within two
| years. The land is here and we shall soon have
better market outlets am hopeful of q genu-
| ine well-founded boom"
AT THE VINEYARD
The driver had halted upon the top of one of
the highest hills and pointing TO the right said
"Yonder's Misser Dubois place" He was di-
rected TO spen the gates, and the carriage then
| proceeded through an avenue of oaks up to the
| steps of a large, old-fashioned and hospitable-
| looking house. rap at the door received no
response, and after il had been repeated several
| times with the same result the two visitors
| walked TO the rear and Immediately heard q
| Voice In a minute or more, up narrow shaded
| lane from the valley below, came pair of black
| mules, their loose harness clatterng about them
as they logged Aslride of one was foreign
| looking young man, clad in blue flannel shirt
| and anon exhorting the animals in a delightful
French accent. He was surprised at the sight Of
A,,t 30
embarrassment he said in answer to his visitors
| inquiry for Mr. Dubois, that the vineyard pro-
| prietor was absent in New York, but that he was
| himself in charge at present, and would be
| pleased to show them about the place. A gate
| was opened and the three were at once among
the grape vines.
BIT OF HISTORY.
Fort San Luis lies about one and half miles
west of Tallahassee 1t was formerly strong
hold of the Spanish occupation period. and traces
| of the ancient earthworks are still discernible
| about the hill. There are romantic stories and
| numerous legends connected with its history,
| and it was years ago the scene Of many mysteri-
GUS diggings for hidden treasure. But these facts
in relation TO the spot belong IN another article,
| which may appear in the columns OF the Neacs-
| HeraM in the near future.
J Mr.. Emil Dubois, the present proprietor of the
place took possession of it about five or six years
| ago He is the son OF = wealthy wine mauufac-
| turer OF France, whose vineyards are located not
| far from Paris. He Ia himself practical grape
| grower. was bred 10 the business, and has devo-
| ted his attention to grape growing in America